Last month during the gala awards ceremony at the Ottawa Conference Centre, the OHBA presented its 2014 Local Association of the Year Award to the London Home Builders’ Association (LHBA). The busy local, whose membership of 270 (and growing) accounts for 88% all new homes built in the London area, was honoured for its work in community engagement, member services and successful advocacy. 

“It was bit of a surprise, but we’re very honoured to receive the award,” says LHBA president Ted Melchers. “Our association has long been involved in community service, with great participation by our members. It’s good to be recognized for all the work our members do.”  

Foremost among the LHBA’s achievements was the local’s success in effecting positive changes for the building industry, the City of London, as well as the city’s residents and business community. Thanks to an enviable relationship with City Hall, the LHBA conducted numerous meetings with staff over the past two years to minimize development charges, resulting in a $25 million difference between the city’s proposed fee and the final negotiated fee.

On a province-wide level, the LHBA had a significant role in securing an Ontario change to the Ontario Building Code to permit six-storey wood frame construction—a major OHBA initiative that will finally take effect January 1, 2015. The local’s successful efforts with London municipal staff and city officials coincided with the creation of the city’s recently completed official building plan, which prioritizes increased density and intensification over urban sprawl.

“We need to rely on mid-rise building to help us grow sustainably—in the areas of finance, infrastructure and rapid transit,” observed London’s Chief City Planner John Flemming in the fall issue of Ontario Home Builder. “Increasing the number of wood-frame storeys to six would allow us to promote sustainable technologies while lowering the cost of housing—not to mention building a healthy community that promotes walking and rapid transit. Right now, six-storey wood frame building is marketable because it is affordable and promotes a strong sense of community, which people are looking for.”       

London’s adoption of six-storey wood led to the city’s support of OHBA efforts to bring this type of construction to Ontario. Melchers explains the process further. “The London Plan has identified four hubs and traffic paths leading to the city’s core. These are ideal for six-storey wood,” he says. 

In the areas of community engagement, LHBA members have gone above and beyond, contributing over 5,000 hours of their time to support of 39 association initiatives and donating more than $100,000 to London community organizations. A major LHBA project was the Cancer Survivor Garden, a facility “where survivors go to celebrate.” Located on city land, the garden is regularly maintained by LHBA members, who have pledged to care for it for at least 10 years. 

The LHBA’s Student Ambassador Program, meanwhile, involves every major educational institution in the London area. Each school chooses ambassadors who regularly attend LHBA dinner meetings and get involved in community programs. “These individuals can share with their schools what the LHBA and the building industry are all about,” says Melchers. “They could be our future home builders.”

Continuing its outreach efforts with students, the LHBA’s Youth Engagement Program sees members visiting high schools to talk with students about the association and building industry. The LHBA’s Careers Showcase initiative targets Grade 8 students, parents and teachers. “Our industry is aging while it’s growing,” says Melchers. “We want to emphasize to our youth that there are many career choices available to them—not just on construction sites, but in our offices too.”   

Another initiative is the Smoke Alarm Blitz. In partnership with the London Fire Department, members choose older residential areas of the city that may be more susceptible to fires, knocking on doors—in a helpful versus intimidating manner—to check smoke alarms. If needed, batteries are replaced and smoke alarms are installed at no cost. 

In addition to its community programs, this past summer, working with a London Councillor and several local businesses, association members donated free labour and materials to build a much-needed new roof for a popular London neighbourhood facility—the not-for-profit Woodcrest Community Pool.